The Heavy steamroller their way to the top
1 (2) THE HEAVY – WHAT MAKES A GOOD MAN? – COUNTER
A powerful funky and rocking steamroller of a tune, this punching the air anthem genuinely makes you want to trash the place as well as lifting you up to a higher plane. Awesome. http://youtu.be/wT833yZuO3Y
2 (4) DAVID LYNCH – PINKY’S DREAM FT. KAREN O REMIXES – SUNDAY BEST
The Danish electronics wizard Trentemoller ditches the humid desert night strung out Americana feel of the original, and takes it to the pulsing back streets of a rain swept buzzing neon city, where acid strobes flash and reflect off the wet shiny black. Meanwhile Visionquest build on a Siouxsie And The Banshees vibe, working it into panic stricken gothic horror. http://youtu.be/eavFUhp-38g
3 (7) THE CAST OF CHEERS – HUMAN ELEVATOR – SCHOOL BOY ERROR
A colourful burst of post punk pop that harks back to the days of quirky clever clever bands from grey satellite towns.
4 (6) STUBBORN HEART – NEED SOMEONE E.P. – KAYA KAYA
Much talked about duo cut a few more notches on the curiosity meter. This has got a David Bowie influences Damon Albarn feel on the vocals, but it doesn’t sound like either of them. Whilst the broken electronic rhythms take an experimental Radiohead route. Exciting and intriguing stuff.
5 (5) MACHINES DON’T CARE – BEAT DUN DROP (MADHAVA REMIX)
– COLUMBIA / DECONSTRUCTION
The Madhava Remix takes it out of the cheesey rave arena, and sits Meleka’s vocals on an energy fuelled fluid skanking groove, which takes the song to a whole new level. Rushing Balearic brass that has got that amazing Andrew Weatherall & Hugo Nicholson feel.
6 (8) THE HEAVY – THE GLORIOUS DEAD – COUNTER
After gaining a vast amount of well deserved recognition and building a massive fan base in America, the British soul funk rockers deliver their third Bourbon and voodoo infused raucous L.P. This should top the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic if there’s any justice. http://youtu.be/wT833yZuO3Y
7 (9) THE ORB FEAT. LEE SCRATCH PERRY – THE OBSERVER IN THE STAR HOUSE – COOKING VINYL
This LP just had to happen, and it’s not a marriage made in heaven as such, it’s more a meeting of cosmic minds that goes way beyond your average bods natural way of thinking, and thank goodness for that is the resounding voice of unreason, we wouldn’t expect any less. Turn on. Tune in. Drop the lot. Enjoy. http://youtu.be/SQx-BefP9-Y
8 (13) SLOK / DJUMA SOUNDSYSTEM – LONELY CHILD / COME TOGETHER – MY FAVORITE ROBOT
A quality double header. Leading with a remake from Italy sporting rolling house rhythms, spooky vocals and sinister bass keys. Flipped with electronic Norwegian glacial cool. http://youtu.be/aJNBlPSPWig
9 (10) MINA TINDLE – BELLS – BELIEVE
A lovely slice of sophisticated French folk pop with subtle electronics. It’s also the lead cut on her critically acclaimed dreamy debut L.P. Taranta, which is quite simply gorgeous. http://youtu.be/Eo-3RaFoXIo
10 (16) T.W.I.C.E. – MELODY LANE EP – MY FAVORITE ROBOT
Deep and atmospheric house with clever use of piano and vocal snippets. The Criminal Minds Mix adds sassy funk with dance floor poke, setting floors alight on a global scale.
11 (12) THE THIRD DEGREE – CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD – ACID JAZZ
Kylie’s pop smash gets dressed up in a crimplene jumpsuit and comes backed with a sizzling percussive remix care of Smoove. http://youtu.be/dfQEls0pQCI
12 (17) DEAD CAN DANCE – ANASTASIS – PIAS
The Australian world music combos first LP since 1996. It’s enchanting and spiritual, with subtle rhythms, sweeping soundscapes, plus a wide range of musical & vocal styles. The Tee Pee Field Massive will be thoroughly overjoyed.
13 (20) SEAMING – MERMAID EP – THE STATE 51 CONSPIRACY
Absolutely astounding four track EP that is totally original and will take you to places you’ve never been before. Her unique voice and musical arrangements create a sense of wide eyed magical wonder. Seaming To is going to be a star for all the right reasons. http://youtu.be/5ZXAdkrQhM0
14 (25) ALEX ARNOUT – SCIENCE FRICTION EP – TURQUOISE BLUE
Three cuts of sexy heavily delayed vocals tripping around deep house rhythms with warm tones. Freshly pressed plastic to make you moist.
15 (23) TODDLA T – WATCH ME DANCE: AGITATED BY ROSS ORTON & PIPES – NINJA TUNE
The whole Toddla T LP has been remixed by two of the Sheffield underground scenes leading lights, working with a shared love of dancehall and forward thinking electronics. http://youtu.be/Li2FTbpfag8
16 (NEW) ALI LOVE – THE JUNGLE / PLAYA – No.19 MUSIC
The opening Playa is a deep and sparse house affair with Mr Love’s vocals giving it a bit of a Paisley Park feel. Meanwhile The Jungle keeps the vibe but gets trippy with effected vocals and electronic animal sounds, plus it comes with a delirious fever inducing Seb Brigante Remix.
17 (18) ALPHABET BACKWARDS – LADYBIRD – HIGHLINE
Quintessentially English summertime pop from Oxford that’s like a breezy downhill bike ride on a country lane.
18 (21) FALTYDL – HARDCOURAGE – NINJA TUNE
Bass heavy techno laced with subtle percussion supporting rave vocal and keyboard flourishes.
19 (19) TOOB – CHOP HOUSE VOL 2 – TOOB
Richard Thair and Jake One deliver a fat slab of groovy techno with a nice warm fluid feel and an abundance of original creaking sounds.
20 (NEW) KID KOALA – 12 BIT BLUES – NINJA TUNE
Eric San aka Kid Koala finally got the machine of his childhood dreams, an SP-1200 Sampler, the legendary piece of kit used by hip hop royalty. So in a flash of inspiration he went back to basics, which turned out to be the blues, after three days of cutting up, reassembling, multi tracking and getting creative, this raw and spine tingling labour of love was in the bag. You can almost feel the dust and haze.
21 (24) THE BIG EYES FAMILY PLAYERS & FRIENDS – FOLK SONGS II –
STATIC CARAVAN
Twelve tracks of intricately swirling and slightly psychedelic folk, featuring an impressive array of guests including Adrian Crowley, Heather Ditch and James Yorkston to name just a few. Makes you want to trim your own hair with a pair of blunt scissors.
22 (28) LORN – WEIGH ME DOWN – NINJA TUNE
A disturbing masked whirling dervish of a tune lifted from his critically acclaimed LP Ask The Dust. Illum Sphere takes away the sharp edges and wraps it in lush warm tones, Mike Slott brings shuffling percussive rhythms, wobbling bass tones and jazzy key flourishes to the mix, and Mono/Poly goes for atmospheric choral pads offset with electronic seagulls and aggravated Morse code. http://youtu.be/uaVPh0mBeXA
23 (NEW) RETRAC – SHADES EP – INDIGO RAW
Lie Detector sparks things up with an early 90’s techno slant, think Dan Curtin, Glen Underground, Djax and Peacefrog, it also comes with a Hit & Miss Rework which takes a Balearic house route. The title cut Shades works classic techno elements to a fine art and comes with percussive and hypnotic remixes from Ethyl and Jamo respectively.
24 (26) NIGHT TRAINS – NO MORE HEROES – ACID JAZZ
Take one of The Stranglers 70’s anthems, fire it up with stompin’ northern soul beats, dress it with 60’s bubblegum and front it with a Millicent Martin influenced singer. Result: A guaranteed good time to be had by all.
25 (29) VARIOUS ARTISTS – BLACK KEY EP (VOL 1) – BLACK KEY
Three cuts of quality underground house to get your teeth into. BLM opens with Detroit infused stabs, luring vocals and subtle keys, Flori goes for an old school Chicago classic riff, and James Johnston rounds off proceedings in a deep & moody manner.
26 (NEW) HOLY OTHER – HELD – TRI ANGLE
Debut LP of moving drones, ambient washes, euphoric highs, electric clicks, low slung grooves, biblical choirs, first gasps, last breaths and mixed emotions of an intertwined deep and meaningful loving relationship. http://youtu.be/IjYyeWqk9V0
27 (27) DEEKIE – RUSH – MELODICA
Distant and spiritual with charming chimes, gentle vocals, bubbling electronics and dusty brushes. Must Not Be Mentioned on the flip enters into the busy buy calm world of an insect workers commune.
28 (NEW) DJ WILD – AFTER YOU LAY DOWN EP – ACT NATURAL
The title track packs a big room bumping house rhythms and builds with atmospheric ecstatic Balearic pads. Nice!
29 (NEW) THE FRAYS – 90 WARDOUR STREET – ACID JAZZ
Signed to Decca Records in 1965 and recorded at The Marquee Studios, this debut LP never saw the light of day, until now. Another gem in the Acid Jazz Rare Mod series.
30 (30) SIZARR – BOARDING TIME – FOUR COLUMBIA
German electronic four piece influenced by 80’s gothic tinged pop with rolling toms and dramatic synths. Yosi Horikawa, Exeter and Anenon add the dancefloor flavours. http://youtu.be/pDGYHdm07Hc
To get your track submitted for consideration please contact Dean Thatcher at deanthatcher25@hotmail.com Vinyl & CD’s much preferred.
